Chalk-line holder.



No. 665,|l9. Patented lan. I, |901. L. L. LATTER. y

CHALK LINE HOLDER.

(No odel.)

W'IIWESSES INVEINTOR i* @7j/WMM( Laune/Zeal?. m/er TH: Nonnls Patins co.. PHOTO-urna.. wAsMlNuToN, n.'c..

v UNITED STATES PATENTA OFFICE.

\ LAWRENCE LEONARD LATTER, OF FALMOU'IH, MASSACHUSETTS.-

CHALK-LINE HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,119, dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed September 8, 1900. Serial No. 29,377. (No model) I To va/.ZZ whom it. may concern:

Beit known that I, LAWRENCE LEONARD LATTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Falmouth, in the county of Barnstable and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Chalk-Line Holders, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to chalk-line holders, or devices adapted to contain powdered chalk and a reel and line and intended by artisans for marking a line upon a surface;

and the invention consists of the parts and the constructions and combinations of parts, which I will hereinafter fully describe and specifically claim.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure l is aside elevation of a chalk-line holder embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side with the side of the shell removed. Fig. 3 is a detail of the reel removed from its casing. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail to be referred to. Fig. 5 is a detail of the arm D and handle F. Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. l.

In carrying out my invention I construct a shell or case A of suitable form and material, preferably with a removable side A' to aiford access to the interior. As shown, the shell or case is curved and substantially semicircular at one end, while the otherY end is recessed at a. to form a forwardly-projecting throat'B, through which the chalk-line C is drawn. One side of the shell or case may also have a circular depression b, within which is located an arm D, fixed to one end of a shaft E, passing transversely through the shell and forming the axis for the reel, said arm having a folding handle F, which is held in an open or closed position by means of a spring c on the back of the arm. In the side of the shell is also formed a socket or cavity d, into which the pin G on the free end of the line is to beinserted when the device is not in use. In the front end wall of the shell is also formed an opening d', through which the powdered chalk is introduced into the shell, said opening being controlled by a plate H, having a slot, engaged by a pin e, and having a notch e' in its lower edge to engage a pin c2 and turned about the pin e to uncover said opening and may close said opening and be locked by its engagement with the pin e2.

B in the throat of the shell, said aperture having a packing f to prevent the leakage of powdered chalk.

To prevent the reel Arunning too freely, I provide a drag or brake consisting of a coiled spring g, placed upon the shaft between one or both of the disks J and the inner face of one of the sides of the shell, this spring being compressed when the parts of the shell are assembled, whereby the friction of the compressed spring against the disk retards the too-rapid rotation of the reel. In one or both disks slots h are cutto enable the chalk to have access to the coiled line to freely chalk the same, so that when the line is drawn over the surface to be marked the impression of the line is left by the chalk in the usual manner.

The slots in the disk J are made bystamping or cutting out tongues or lugs h', which remain attached to the body of the disk at one end and are then bent outwardly at right angles parallel with the shaft, as indicated in Fig. 3. These tongues stand radial to the axis of the reel, and they serve as stops to be engaged by a pawl Z, pivotal at m and having an arm or member bent at right angles and passing into a recess n in the upper forward portion of the shell. n is a second recess or opening o, which leads out through the upper front end of the shell and is designed to receive a pin or bolt p, the lower end of which rests upon the inturned end of the pawl l, a spring r below said end of the pawl holding the latter in contact with the lower end of the bolt 7 0 and said bolt be-V ing guided in its movements and retained within its recess by means of a cross-pin s, engaging a slot in the bolt, as shown in Fig. 4. From this description it will appear that when the bolt pis depressed by the finger the intersecting this recess IOO pawl is lifted out of the path ofl the tongues or lugs h', and the reel is free to rotate to enable the line to pay ont; but when the linger is removed from said bolt the pawl is forced into the path of the lugs or tongues and engages the latter to serve as a positive stop or check and to prevent further rotation of the reel and according further paying out of the line. rIhis insures the proper tension on the line and prevents the line overrunning the reel and tangling.

Having th us described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A chalk-line holder including a shell or case having a substantially semicircular outline at the rear portion and having the opposite portion recessed to form a throat which projects horizontally from the lower front portion of the shell, a reel having a chalk-line passing through an aperture in the throat, a filling-opening through the recessed portion of the shell above said throat and a closure for said opening.

2. A chalk-line holder comprising a shell or case having a substantially semicircular outline at the rear and having the opposite portion recessed to form a throat which projects forwardly from the lower front portion of the shell, a iilling-opening through the recessed front portion of the shell in line with Jche reel, a reel having a chalk-line, a pulley in the lower part of the shell and by which the line is guided in line with the passage through the throat, lugs on the reel and a pawl engaging said lugs and preventing the rotation of the reel.

3. A chalk-line holder comprising a case formed of two parts said case having a circular interior chamber and a throat extension from the front end connecting with said chamber, a reel corresponding with and substantially filling said chamber, having slots in its sides and lugs projecting therefrom, a line and a guide-pulley below the reel by which the line is guided in line with the opening, a pawl extending longitudinally of the shell, pivoted between its ends and having one end in the path of said lugs and the opposite end turned crosswise of the shell, and a spring-pressed finger-piece at the upper front portion of the shell and having its lower end in contact with the bent portion of the pawl.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LAWRENCE LEONARD l'lA'lllElt.

Witnesses:

A. O. STANGER, A. L. CARR, 

